Inside The Panthers

Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee Create Epic Super Bowl Parade Moment

The former Pitt Panthers quarterback enjoyed the Super Bowl parade.

Dominic Campbell

Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (7) walks off the field after win against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (7) walks off the field after win against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
In this story:

PITTSBURGH — Former Pitt Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett had a grand, old time celebrating during the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl Parade.

Pickett and other Eagles players were on top of a bus during the parade, when someone threw a beer up to them. Fellow Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee caught the beer and then gave it to Pickett, who ceremoniously chugged it.

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, 40-22. This marked the second Super Bowl victory for the franchise and they did so in dominating fashion, leading by 34 points early in the fourth quarter.

Pickett came in late during the Super Bowl for the Eagles, playing in two drives, including the final one where he ended the game on a quarterback kneel.

He joined Eagles cornerbacks Avonte Maddox (2013-17) and A.J. Woods (2019-23) as the first former Pitt players to win a Super Bowl since legendary defensive tackle Aaron Donald (2010-13) won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.

Pitt students came out in the streets following the Super Bowl victory and even chanted Pickett's name, celebrating their beloved former star.

Pickett came out of Ocean Township High School on Oakhurst, N.J. where he threw for 4,670 yards and 43 touchdowns, while rushing for 873 yards and 17 touchdowns as well.

247Sports rated him as the No. 10 pro-style quarterback and No. 13 recruit in New Jersey, Rivals ranked him No. 23 in the state, while ESPN rated him the No. 25 quarterback and No. 21 recruit in New Jersey, all in the Class of 2017, respectively.

Pickett served as one of the best ever Pitt quarterbacks, with his 2021 season featuring as one of the finest by a signal caller in program history. 

He completed 334-of-497 passes, 67.2%, for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns to seven interceptions, as he led the Panthers to their first 10-win regular season in more than 40 years and their first ACC Championship. His passing yards and passing touchdowns are program records for a season.

Pickett finished his Pitt career with 12,303 passing yards and 81 passing touchdowns, both program records and would earn himself that First Round NFL Draft selection in 2022, with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking him at No. 20.

He struggled with the Steelers, going 14-10 overall and completing 446-of-713 passes, 62.6%, for 4,744 yards and 13 touchdowns to 13 interceptions in two seasons with the franchise.

His last NFL start for the Steelers came against the Arizona Cardinals at home in Week 13 of the 2023 campaign, where he suffered an ankle injury early on and never returned. He didn't play for the team the rest of the season.

The Steelers traded Pickett last offseason to the Eagles for a fourth round draft pick, while landing a third round draft pick in return for him. 

Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion on the second drive of their 36-33 road loss to NFC East divisional rival in the Washington Commanders in Week 16, forcing Pickett into the game.

Pickett had only come in three games prior to Washington, completing one of three passes for five yards.

He did deal with a ribs injury during the game against the Commanders, but stayed in and perservered. This was the same ribs injury that plagued him vs. the Cowboys and that he is still going through.

Pickett completed 14-of-24 passes, 58.3%, for 143 yards and one touchdown and one interception against the Commanders. He almost sealed the win on the Eagles' final drive, but wide receiver Devonta Smith dropped a pass on third down, that would've given them the first down at the two-minute warning.

The Commanders then went down the field and secured the victory, scoring a touchdown with six seconds left.

Pickett started his first game for the Eagles in their Week 17 matchup, a 41-7 victory over their rival in the Dallas Cowboys that clinched the NFC East division title.

He had a solid game for the Eagles, completing 10-of-15 passes for a touchdown and also ran for a touchdown, as the Eagles had a 24-7 lead at halftime.

Pickett then found Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown for a touchdown pass in the third quarter, that the referees called back for a holding call, and suffered a big hit from Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.

Pickett would leave the game and not return, with McKee coming in place of him the rest of the game.

Pro Football Talk reported that Pickett played with broken ribs vs. the Cowboys and received two injections, one before the game and the other at halftime to ease the pain.

Pickett managed to come back for the Super Bowl and won his second major Championship, doing so in college and the pros.

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt

Published
Dominic Campbell
DOMINIC CAMPBELL

Follow Dominic Campbell on Twitter.

Home/Football